Copper and steel plate printing-press



2 Sheets-8heet l.

E. C. MIDDLETON, E. NEVERS & R. NBA-LE. COPPER AND STEEL PLATE PRINTINGPRESS.

No. 7,786. Patented Nov. 19, 1850.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

E. C. MIDDLETON, E; NE'VERS & R. NEALE.

COPPER AND STEELILATE PRINTING PRESS,-.

Patented Nov. 19, 1850.

THE warm zrzRs co. r ncmmumo.v WASHINGTON. u c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. C. MIDDLETON AND E. NEVERS, OF CINCINNATI, AND R. NEALE, OF MOUNTCARMEL, OHIO.

COPPER AND STEEL PLATE PRINTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7,788, dated November 19, 1850.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ELIJAH C. MIDDLE- TONand EDWARD NEvnRs, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, and ROBERT NEALE, ofMount Carmel, Clermont county, Ohio, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Copper and Steel Plate Printing Presses; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the nature, construction, and operation of the same, reference beinghad to the annexed drawings which are made part of this specification.

Our improvement consists of the following particulars: lstly, anarrangement by which the edge of the convex part of the D roller iscaused to impinge upon any desired part of the platen which traversesbeneath it, so that any desired portion of a copper or steel plate canbe printed without including other matter which may be upon the sameplate, and also preventing the making and defacing of the margin of thepaper by the edge of the plate; Qndly, certain arrangements for securinguniformity of position and regularity of motion between the platen, andthe rollers upon which it runs, so that the rollers preserve theirplaces with regard to the platen, and aberration is prevented. erdly, animproved method of heating uniformly the platen upon which the platesrest, and to which they are secured, so that the plates need not beremoved from the press for the purpose of inking. ethly, an improvedmethod of securing the plates to the platen readily adjustable to anydesired size, and affording facility of removal. 5thly, A method ofretracting the platen after its effective stroke.

The first part of our improvement we effect by means of an adjustabletoot-h or catch, secured to and projecting beyond the periphery of the Droller, which strikes a catch or tooth adjustable longitudinally of theplaten, so as to bring the edge of the convex part of the D roller uponany desired portion of the platen as before mentioned, permit-ting theuse of the plate for different sizes of paper without leaving the markof the margin of the plate. The

plate is secured to the platen by the sliding and stationary clamps, andthe blankets [which are introduced between the roller and the plate togive an elastic pressure] narrowed so as perfectly to cover the en- Thesecond part of our improvement is thus effected. The platen ortraversing bed rests upon a gang of rollers, secured together by theirjournals so as to preserve their relative distances. To prevent lateralaberration these rollers are grooved midways of their length, andcorresponding beads are affixed to the lower part of the platen and tothe sill upon which the rollers run. Thus the rollers are laterallysustained and in their turn keep the platen from lat-- eral aberration.For the purpose of securing the rollers in their proper positionlongitudinally, in reference to the platen which traverses upon them, arack is attached to the platen which gears into a cog wheel attachedtothe gang of rollers, which again gears into a rack on the sill or bedupon which the rollers run.

The third part of our improvement is as follows: The platen or bed plateis made of two plates stiffened by ribs which connect them, and leavinga space between them into which spirit or oil lamps are placed forheating the platen and keeping the engraved plate at a propertemperature. It is usual to remote the plate between each impression toa charcoal furnace for the purpose of inking, which involvesconsiderable time, and in the case of heavy plates is inconvenient. Thefumes of the coal are likewise injurious. A considerable degree of heatis necessary to give fluidity to the ink enabling it to enter the finelines, as when cold it is very thick and viscid. This difliculty hasbeen imperfectly met by the use of heated bars of iron, but the effectof these is constantly varying and does not fulfill the requirements.

The fourth part of our invention is thus effected. A small plate isattached to the front part of the upper surface of the platen, whichbeing undercut, admits of the insertion of the beveled edge of theengraved plate; a sliding gripper stretching across and adjustable atany part of the length of the platen and which is also undercut is thenbrought forward so as to overlap the other edge of the engraved plate,and is secured by screws at its ends to the edges of the platen. Thisarrangement gives the requisite immobility and also admits of the readyremoval of the plate.

Fifthly, we retract the platen after its effective stroke and while theD roller is removed from contact with its surface, by meansof a weightedcord which is attached to the blanket which passes under the roller, andwhich in its turn is attached to a bar on the back of the platen, thebed on which the rollers run being an inclined plane.

In the annexed drawings similar letters refer to corresponding parts inthe several figures.

Figure 1, is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation partly in section. Fig. 4:, is a side view of the traversingapparatus and bed, the trestle and standards removed. is a trestle, fromtop to top of which extend two transoms (b) from which arise twostandards (0) each standard having a vertical groove (cl) along itsunderwidth, for the play of a spring (6) supporting a journal box (f) ofthe D roller and terminating at top with a head (g) containing a setscrew (h) by means of which the pressure roller is adjusted to therequired altitude. This pressure roller is of what is commonly styled.the D form, that is partly round, and partly flattened. The platenconsists of two slabs and one, (7') somewhat elevated above the other byribs (Z), so as to leave between them a space for the introduction ofspirit lamps. This platen rests upon a gang of rollers which are fixedin a pair of cheeks (n) and grooved around their perimeters (0, 0)are apair of ways or tracks placed lengthwise of the machine, along which therollers move to and fro; the spines or beads (p) upon the tracks andupon the underside of the platen fit into the grooves (111/) in therollers preventing any lateral aberration. Pivoted to one of the rollercheeks or connecting rod of the gang of rollers is a pinion (a) workingin a pair of racks (8 and 9) one ,rack being attached to the platen andthe other to the sill upon which the rollers run. The tracks arefurnished with beads (r) at the ends in order to limit the range of therollers and platen, projecting from the pressure roller is an adjustabletooth (s), and there is a similar tooth (t) affixed adjustably to theplaten (j, 70) so that the point upon the platen where the roller firstimpinges can be made matter of regulation and adjustment. Projecting infront of the platen are two arms (w), bearing a rod (y), which aifordsapoint of attachment for the blanket (a). To the other end of the blanketa cord is attached, which, passin upward and over a pulley (3), has aweight (10) attached which keeps all taut. Appended to the top of theplaten are a pair of clamps, one of them (4), being stationary, and theother (5) capable of sliding along the top of the platen the extremitiesgrasping the edgeof the platen and being secured thereto by a set screw.The roller is operated by the usual set of handles (7). There are otherparts in the machine which have not been particularly described as manyof them are in common use.

Having thus fully, clearly and exactly described the nature constructionand operation of our improvements in copper and steel plate printingpresses, what we claim therein as of our invention and which we d'esireto secure by Letters Patent, are

1. The arrangement of a tooth or catch projecting from the roller, andoperating upon a tooth or projection upon the platen for the purpose ofstarting the platen and causing the commencement of the convexity of theroller to impinge upon any required point of the length of the platen,for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the racks (8 and 9) with the cog wheel attached tothe connecting rod of a gang of rollers together with the beads (p) andthe grooves (m) in the rollers for security uniformity of action and aproper relative position between the platen and the supporting rollersupon which it traverses, thus preventing lateral and longitudinalaberration.

3. The method of heating and retaining at a suitable temperature theplate from which the impressions are to be taken by means of lamps or ofvessels containing inflammable material, placed under the upper plate ofthe platen or traversing bed,

within the recess formed between that and E. C. MIDDLETON. EDWARDNEVERS. ROBERT NEALE.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, EDWARD H. KNIGHT.

